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Child custody is a legal registration of the relationship in which an adult holds account for the wellbeing of a minor (typically under the age of 18 years) or an adult with mental or physical disabilities. Custody is most often formalized when child is deprived of the parents; when parents leave them to their own devices; when they do not receive normal care; when they become a victim of ill-treatment or abuse from parents.

What are the responsibilities of a foster parent?

A foster parent should monitor the general welfare of the child, satisfy their personal needs – such as education, health care, normal living conditions. In some cases, the foster parent may also be responsible for the child’s financial allocations, although often it will be done by another person, a court-appointed executor.

What is the difference between child custody and adoption?

Adoption changes the relationship between adults and child. Adult adopters officially become adoptive parents. As for birth parents, they lose their parental rights and obligations to the child, including financial responsibility to them. In this regard, for example, if a biological parent dies without leaving a will, the adoptee has no right to inheritance. Although child custody also establishes a legal relationship between a child and an adult, it is, nevertheless, does not interrupt the previous legal relationship between the child and parents. For example, the biological parent is still obliged to provide financial support for the child, and if a parent dies without a will, the child retains the right to inheritance.

Child custody does not interrupt the previous legal relationship between the child and parents.

Can a person, whom the child’s biological parents are against, be appointed as a foster parent?

It depends on the judge’s decision. It all starts with the filing of suit to the court by the alleged foster parent. Then the representative of the court will hold a conversation with him, with the child and parents and present the recommendations to the judge. Child’s custody is usually not assigned, if biological parents do not consent or if the judge deems that the legal custody will affect the child and parents adversely. At the same time, a foster parent will possess perfect child custody rights if the parents gave up the child.

Is custody should be formalized, if the child is living with someone who is not his parent?

If the child lives with you for a few weeks or months, it is not necessary to establish custody. But if you anticipate that you will have to look after the child for a long period, for example, a few years, then you should think about custody. Without this, it may be difficult to send a child to school, provide them with medical care or get for them special benefits. In addition, you will have no further rights to care for the child if the parents are suddenly will claim their parental right, even if they are not able to take proper care of the child.

In what cases child’s custody is not required?

Let us assume that the child is living with you permanently. However, you can have a good reason not to register custody. For example, parents can be against. In addition, you can be not glad with the prospect of the consideration of your candidacy in court. Finally, the custody may in some circumstances (for example, when the child’s mother lives with another husband) lead to serious disputes, i.e. where the child should belong. In this regard, many adults raising children try to avoid the registration of custody through the courts.

When is the deadline for the child custody?

In most cases the deadline is the time when the child comes of legal age. But the judge can determine that child custody is no longer necessary. Rare cases are when the custody was registered solely for the distribution of the child’s finances and there are no funds for the child’s support anymore. The deadline also comes when when the child dies. It should be borne in mind that, even if the custory remains in effect, the foster parent has the right to abandon the role by legal means. In this case, the court will appoint a new foster parent.

Who supports the child financially during the period of custody?

The biological parents of the child (except in the case when the court will deprive them of their parental rights, which is unlikely) must be responsible for it. But in fact, it often turns out that the material welfare of the child comes upon the foster parents. For example, it is them who in some cases seek for social assistance and other benefits on behalf of the child. By the way, all funds received for the child should be spent only for the child’s needs. The more the amount of these funds, the greater the possibility that the judge will require to present a periodic report on their spending.

Divorce is a termination used for canceling legal responsibilities of marriage. In such situations people usually turn to the divorce attorney for help. Divorce lawyers also deal other aspects such as adoptions, testaments and tutelage. This specialist is competent in the law questions. He is up to giving some advice that concerns the situation, provide support to his clients to make the situation less tensive.

How should you choose the divorce attorney?

Finding the right professional will help you to solve the divorce problems without too many difficulties. That is why, choosing the attorney requires following some steps:

Ask your acquaintances whether they had such experiences. It will be better if they recommend you the family law firm who has already helped them once.

Try to know for how long the lawyer was to deal with such case as yours. What is his experience in divorces? In law generally?

Find out what kind of payment your lawyer prefers? Does he want an hourly pay? Do his avocations include a free consultation for listening to your case?

Put a question to the attorney about out the references from other clients. Do some small investigation, browse the website. Think over the questions for which you want to know the answers.

It is a good idea to find several specialists to choose the one who you think is the most experienced. Prepare yourself before the consultations; think of what issues you are concerned about. Some clients prefer being sure in the fact whether they feel comfortable enough to talk about problems concerning the case with the attorney.

What to ask your attorney about?

There are also some other matters:

How much time does the process take? It always depends upon the case. Some processes may take about a few months if the agreement between ex-spouses about the divorce issues is reached. If one of them disagrees in some questions such as alimony, children’s custody, property issues, the process might take a year or even longer.

What does it include? The family law attorney should inform you what the process includes by telling about different procedures.

Agree on the way of keeping the contact. The attorney will need to contact you when he has something to report you.